Monday, October 26, 2009

Our first family picture with all six of us. Travis didn't want anything to do with it. As we were trying to take the pictures, Tanner turned to Eric and said, "Dad, this is our family." It was so cute!

We had our ward primary program yesterday and Aubree wouldn't say her part. She was being too shy. All of the sunbeams stood up to the microphone and told who was in their families. Aubree wouldn't even get off of her teachers lap.

Travis loves to color. I love it when he gets on his stomach to do it.

Trav man in the tub. I love his Nygard forehead.

Tanner turned 3 this week. He was meant to be born by Halloween. He loves everything to do with Halloween. He has to wearing his skeleton shirt, trick or treat shirt, or his batman costume at all times.

Tanner is such an awesome boy and we are so grateful to have him in our family. He is so full of personality and our family wouldn't be complete without him.

I found 3 different cake ideas that I wanted to make, and instead of making one big one, I made all 3 smaller ones. They didn't turn out like I had hoped, but Tanner loved them.

The kids can't get enough of Andrew. Whenever Travis sees him he says "hello, baby" and lays his head on him. Travis loves not being the bottom of the totem pole anymore.

Eric blew out Tanner's candles, so we let him try again. His smile at the end is priceless.

On Oct 24 we celebrated Eric's 4 year anniversary of when he was diagnosed with cancer. I can't believe that it was 4 years ago. It seems like forever ago. When Eric was first diagnosed we had no kids, and on his 4th anniversary with have 4 kids. It is so awesome how greatly we have been blessed. As I have thought about Eric and how much he means to me I become emotional just thinking about him. He is such an inspiration and example to me. He has taken the trials in his life and has allowed them to strengthen him and change him. I love that no matter how busy Eric may get, he is never too busy for anybody. Even when he has no time, he still takes the time to nurture relationships by taking the time to talk, return texts, returns calls, emails people, checks up friends, and still is the best Dad and Husband for us. I appreciate that about Eric. Last year I did a post on his Anniversary that has links to my favorite article and tv clip if anyone maybe interested in reading or watching. I am so grateful to be able to celebrate Eric's anniversary and what we have learned from that trial.

A friend of mine taught me how to take newborn pictures. I love how they turned out. She took a lot better ones with her fancy camera and I will post those when I get them. Andrew is such a sweet baby. I love his lips!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Aubree is so helpful. If I have to chase after Tann and Trav, she will feed Andrew. She is getting really good at holding and maneuvering Andrew.

I went to cook something in the oven and found this melted to the oven racks. The kids are always "cooling" stuff off in the fridge and "cooking" their stuff in the oven. I had to remelt them a little to pry off the mini-muffin tin.

Love this picture. We were out raking the leaves in the afternoon and the kids found some apples in our garage. Trav has the cutest smile. Tanner would live in his Batman outfit if I let him. Aubree changes his clothes everyday during naps.

Best buds. I love the relationship that these two have. They are so special!

Andrew sleeping and I think I caught a half smile.

Aubree and Travis coloring together. Travis is so serious about his letters and coloring. He is constantly bringing me a paper and pen and asking me to write the letters. He knows all the letters and their sounds, and is now learning his numbers. I will have to post video of it soon. It is awesome.

Handsome Tanner. Tanner turns 3 on Friday. I can't believe it. He LOVES anything to do with Halloween.

I didn't even realize Trav didn't have shoes on till I just saw this picture.

Andrew with his eyes open. He is such a good baby and so cute!

My Mom has been coming over this week and hanging out in the mornings, so I can get on top of everything and get the house all in order. While the kids nap, I get to go work out and get groceries. I don't know what to do with myself during that free time. We have been blessed with great families who are so selfless and helpful to our family.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Andrew's story starts on September 22. The kids and I were getting ready to go to the library and I got a call from our caseworker. He told us that a birth mom had picked us as the adoptive family. He said all the legal paper work was all signed and she was due on the 24th (2 days). While I was talking to Brad (our caseworker) I gmail chatted with Eric and told him everything. The birth mom didn't know what she was having. We were so excited. I wanted start getting everything ready, but it is hard to get your hopes up and get everything ready and have there not be a 100% chance of the placement happening. We told our families and we were excited to get more info. After birth mom's next Dr's appointment we found out the baby was a healthy baby boy. We started gathering all our baby clothes and stuff, thinking we would have a new baby by the weekend.

We didn't hear anything for a few days, and my sister and I had already signed up to run a half marathon around Green Bluff. It hurt, but it is cool to say we have run 13.1 now.

So after this weekend we heard from our birth mom again and found out that they changed her due date to October 6th. This happened to be the day that Eric's brother got home from his mission. I started planning what to pack and everything I would need if the baby was born while I was in Wenatchee. We didn't hear anything for at least a week, so I didn't know what to think. Her caseworker couldn't get a hold her and I decided to go to Wenatchee with the kids and not even worry about bringing anything for the baby with me. I was really glad to be in Wenatchee, instead of at home thinking about things too much. It was so fun to see Brandon. He served in the Long Beach, Spanish Speaking mission. Travis thought he was Eric. He kept on hugging him and calling him "Daddy."

Anyways, at the end of the week we heard from Brad that they can't get a hold of her and that she missed her doctor's appointment. So, we didn't know if she already had the baby or what was going on. Eric came to town for Brandon's "homecoming" and went home Sunday night. We both thought that things had fallen through. I was planning on heading home to Spokane Monday morning after we got our windshield replaced. Our windshield hadn't got shipped, so the kids and I ended up needing to stay in Wenatchee until Tuesday.

So... I had just put the kids all down for naps and I got a call from Brad. He first said that I should sit down and then he said that our birth mom's case worker had just received a voice mail from her saying she was at the hospital in labor and wanted him to let us know. Brad had also spoke with the hospitals social worker and she had let Brad know that our birth mom was sure about placing. This was at 1:30ish and they said the nurses thought she'd have her baby around 8 or 9. Eric was going to get done with class at 3, and he was planning on leaving right then. I was going to leave once the kids got up from their naps so I could get there before 8.

So, I get a call from the hospital's social worker at 3 and she tells me that birth mom is pushing and we need to get there now. I threw a few things into my back pack and jumped in the car so I could get there as fast as possible. Eric has to grab the car seat, diapers, and clothes on his way out of town. I showed up at the hospital a little after 5 and went to the birthing center. (This happened to be the same hospital where Aubree was born and that brought back a lot of memories) As soon as the nurses found out who I was they grabbed my stuff and got Andrew into my arms. I sat and held Andrew till the nurses took me to our room. Our birth mom was still at the hospital but she didn't want to meet us. (When we adopted Aubs, I was scared of meeting our birth mom. Now that we have experienced adoption twice and have such a great/open relationship with our birth moms, I wanted to meet Andrew's mom so bad. I wanted to hug her and just meet her. It is such an awesome love that we have for our birth moms.) Eric got to town a half an hour after I did, and Brad was right behind him. Brad was able to go straight to our birth mom's room and meet with her. Brad came to our room after talking to our birth mom for a while. He said the first thing she asked was if we were with her baby. As soon as he told her we were with Andrew, she started crying. It was really important to her that Andrew was being held and loved. Brad said she cried for most of their visit. She told Brad that she had looked up adoption in the yellow pages and LDS Family Services was the agency she called. She didn't know what LDS stood for. When Brad told her we were "Mormon" she told him she had an aunt who was LDS. It is so cool that our birth mom blessed Andrew with an eternal family and she didn't even know it. We hope to be able to meet her someday soon. She is really special to us.

After spending the night at the hospital with Andrew, we got all of the paperwork signed and Eric was able to make it back to school and I headed back to Wenatchee to get the kids. The kids love their new brother. Aubree especially is the cutest. She can't get enough of Andrew. She is so good at holding him and burping him. Aubree is my own, personal nanny. It is wonderful.

This is probably more information than anyone wanted, but I wanted to get all the details down. Adoption is a miracle and we are so grateful to be blessed again by it.

I don't have any pictures because I left my camera in Wenatchee. I am sure I will make up for it soon. The video above is when the kids first met Andrew.

Andrew is a sweet little boy. He is still really sleepy, but when he is awake, he loves to look around. He is happy, healthy, and so loved.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Our Life!

We were married in June 2003 and are currently living in Loma Linda, CA.Eric is doing a Dental Anesthesia Residency.We have seven beautiful children: Aubree 9, Tanner 8, Travis 7, Jared 4, Brady 3, Matthew 1 and our Angel Andrew who died of SIDS in December 2010.Our life has been a bit of a roller coaster, but we are learning to hold on tight and be thankful for the ride.We are happy, and we are so blessed!